Emerging
May 26, 20261
Russia Sets Special Flight Regime for Civil Aircraft Over Moscow Air Zone
Russian authorities received Defense Ministry guidance establishing a special regime for civilian aircraft flights at altitudes up to 5,100 meters in the Moscow air zone. Rosaviatsiya said the restrictions would not affect scheduled and charter passenger flights or several essential aviation operations.
Quick Facts
- issued guidance on a special flight regime for civilian aircraft
- introduced restrictions for flights at altitudes from 0 to 5,100 meters in the Moscow air zone
- excluded passenger and certain service flights from the restrictions
- Russian Ministry of Defense
- Russian Ministry of Transport
Russian aviation authorities have received guidance from the Defense Ministry introducing a special flight regime for civilian aircraft in the Moscow air zone, covering altitudes from 0 to 5,100 meters. The measure was communicated to the Ministry of Transport and the Federal Air Transport Agency, Rosaviatsiya, according to the agency.
Rosaviatsiya said the proposed restrictions would not apply to scheduled or charter passenger flights to and from airports. The exemption list also includes medical and evacuation flights, aviation chemical work, inspections of pipelines and power transmission lines, and aviation operations carried out under government contracts.
The announcement refers to the Moscow air zone in the central European part of Russia. No additional details were given on how long the regime would remain in effect or what prompted the measure.
The guidance appears aimed at regulating civilian aviation activity at low and mid-altitudes while preserving key transport and service flights. Authorities did not indicate any impact on broader passenger air travel.
Why This Matters
This matters because any new airspace regime around Moscow can affect routing, scheduling, and operational planning for airlines, cargo operators, and service aviation. Even if passenger flights are exempt, operators should check whether their missions fall into the restricted altitude band and monitor for any further notices on duration, enforcement, or exemptions.
Timeline & Sources
May 26, 2026
WireTASS reported that Russian aviation authorities received Defense Ministry guidance on a special civilian flight regime in the Moscow air zone.